Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Best Value for Programs in Amman, Jordan Past Review

By (The College of New Jersey) - abroad from 09/12/2014 to 12/22/2014 with

University of Jordan: Amman - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
More so than the language, there is quite a bit I learned about myself and living that I'm applying in my life today. There are some parts of Arab customs that I've adopted into my own.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The professors were hands-down the best I had in my entire college career. In my opinion they represented what academics should be like. They were academics, aid workers, Fullbright scholars, and even commanders of UN peace-keeping missions. Combining theory and practical world experience.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

In my experience they were highly professional, competent, and friendly. They accommodated all of my needs.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

To be fair, I had an exceptional apartment that was well above the norm. Nonetheless, the others were still very good.

* Food:

The food in Amman was good and easily accessible. But above all else, it was cheap.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

This is something that is up to you to develop, and the program did their best to facilitate this.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There is a clinic at the University which many students used and the on-site staff would accompany you to any hospital if you needed it in order to help you better navigate the Jordanian health care system.

* Safety:

I never felt at all threatened in West Amman. In fact, I believe I would feel more threatened in some American cities.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Everything in Jordan was pretty inexpensive.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 40 JD=$56 USD
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Invest in refilling the tanks for your water cooler (about 1 JD/5 gal.), which will be provided in your apartment, because its substantially cheaper than buying any bottled water--even the 1.5L six-packs. While the WHO says Jordan's running water is safe to drink (which is probably true) not even the locals trust it because of an issue which arose in the early 2000s involving the drinking water that caused the people not to trust what the government says about the safety of the water.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Again, this is something that is up to you.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? I got half way through Al-Kitaab.
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Just pay attention to people's mannerism and the vocabulary they use in order to pick up the nuances of the local dialect.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Professors
  • Location
* What could be improved?
  • Integrated classes with local students.
  • More lenient academic policies.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Amman has some Western amenities like grocery stores and pharmacies so you will have access to most products that you think you should pack--but odds are you can just buy it there. However, clothes dryers basically do not exist in Jordan so everything will have to be air dried--which isnt bad. Finally, for guys (sorry, ladies) everything you'll need can fit in a single Army-style duffel bag.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.